Cryptolechia semnodes is a moth in the family Depressariidae.[1] It is endemic to New Zealand. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1911 using a specimen collected at Mount Arthur tableland in February. It is dark in appearance and likely belongs to another genus. This species flies in bright sunshine and is likely a very local species. It is likely that this species probably belongs to another genus and as such this species is also known as Cryptolechia (s.l.) semnodes.
| Cryptolechia semnodes | |
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| Illustration by George Hudson | |
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| Species: | C. semnodes
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| Cryptolechia semnodes | |
Taxonomy
editThis species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1911 using a specimen collected by George Hudson at Mount Arthur Tableland in February at an altitude of 4200 ft.[2] Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.[3] It is likely that this species probably belongs to another genus and as such this species is also known as Cryptolechia (s.l.) semnodes.[1] The holotype is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[4]
Description
editMeyrick described this species as follows:
♂. 16 mm. Head, antennae, and thorax dark fuscous. Palpi dark fuscous, second joint sprinkled with pale ochreous. Abdomen dark purplish-fuscous, beneath with last four segments suffused with brassy-yellow. Fore-wings elongate, somewhat dilated posteriorly, costa gently arched, apex obtuse, termen slightly rounded, somewhat oblique ; 7 to termen ; dark fuscous, with slight bronzy-purplish tinge ; second discal stigma very obscurely darker ; two or three whitish-fuscous scales towards costa about middle and 3⁄4 : cilia dark fuscous. Hindwings blackish ; cilia fuscous, basal third blackish.[2]
In 1928 Alfred Philpott examined the male genitalia of specimens of this species and notes that this species differed significantly from other species in this genus.[5] He noted that unlike other New Zealand endemic species in this genus C. semnodes had the gnathos present and the harpes were simple on the male genitalia.[5]
Distribution
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This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected at Mount Arthur tableland.[1][4]
Behaviour
editThis species flies in the brightest sunshine and was regarded by Hudson as a very local insect.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Cryptolechia semnodes Meyrick, 1911". www.nzor.org.nz. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
- ^ a b E. Meyrick (1 July 1911). "Notes and Descriptions of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 43: 75. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q58200989.
- ^ a b George Vernon Hudson (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 294, LCCN 88133764, OCLC 25449322, Wikidata Q58593286
- ^ a b John Stewart Dugdale (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 87. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
- ^ a b Alfred Philpott (15 August 1927). "The male genitalia of the New Zealand Oecophoridae". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 53: 102–113. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q63131107.